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Wow, that was quick ! I was thinking they may have been around for a lot longer than that - we shall have to wait for our European friends to confirm or deny this. Thanks ! BOB

At least here in the USA Mel Anderson was the first to show a engine with what we think of as using a "needle valve" unit. I don't find any references to model engines being made before 1932. So something must have happened around 1932 through 1935 that suddenly caused people to get the idea to design, build and manufacture model airplane engines. Even the small expansion engines like compressed air, CO2 or carbide and dry ice didn't start appearing until around 1935. Plus this was during the "Great Depression" too, which is even more surprising.

before then intake venturis or carbs used something like what you see on car engines with carburetors. They would use mixture screws instead of a "needle" like we know of today. The first model airplane engine in the USA was made by the Baby Engine Company in 1911, but it used a primitive float carburetor. It was big too, at 2.67 cubic inch displacement and a 1/2 horsepower rating.

Here is Mel Anderson's first model engine 1932 with the unusual setup for air/fuel mixture control. It might arguably be the first model engine with a throttle too. I think Anderson had the first two barrel carb on this engine too.
So Mel Anderson might be the first innovator that set off the model airplane engine industries as we know them today.

I have a vague memory of reading about this engine (80's..?).
Is it a 'true' parallel twin...?...i.e. the crankpins at '360į', both pistons hitting the D/C simultaneously (alternate ignition though)...?...like the old Triumph/Norton/BSA etc motorbike engines..?

I was encouraged to post my question in this thread by another RCG member (Twin-Stack). I'm not sure what size this engine, who made it, or even what decade it was made in. Maybe someone here recognizes it? So far, it seems to be a royal pain in the behind!

Sorry, not much info on this engine.
I discovered a picture of it back then in the 'Model fourstroke engines' by the Late Mr. Peter G.F. Chinn, published back in 1986.
A so called prototype is shown of the engine with the folowing info:
D.F.GREEN prototype
Four lobe camshaft in it's cyl.head. Operate valves through L-shaped rockers.

I obtained the engine in the early ninetees from a close friend of Mr. D.F.Green in England. Have to dig in my lecture to recall his name. Think it whas a name well known from English model magazines.
I know, it's on my long term to do list, still have to go in search for any further info on this engine.

I have a vague memory of reading about this engine (80's..?).
Is it a 'true' parallel twin...?...i.e. the crankpins at '360į', both pistons hitting the D/C simultaneously (alternate ignition though)...?...like the old Triumph/Norton/BSA etc motorbike engines..?

Hi Gluehand,

Yes it's a true 'parallel twin' both pistons hitting TDC simultaneously.
Don't have much more info at this time.
regards,
Danny.

Although neither guessed the size, both twn Chen and mchandrayan were correct in naming the engine as an ENYA. It is an ENYA 09-IV with the single rear ball race, hence the "BB" stamped on the front housing. These are easily identifiable by the fact they wear a red anodised prop driver, and are one of the lesser known ENYA's. Factory stats quote the BB 09 as putting out 0.22 BHP, compared to 0.20 BHP for the standard plain bearing 09. This particular example is an early 09-IV, when they still had the smaller exhaust stack. BOB